Native Plants of the Cherokee by Award-Winning Naturalist Mark Warren

10 Park Plaza,Alpharetta GA 30009

13 August, 2022

Description

This event is hosted by The North Metro Atlanta Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society Mark Warren, owner of the nationally renowned Medicine Bow Wilderness School in Dahlonega, GA, has been teaching nature and survival skills of the Cherokee to adults and children for half a century. Mark believes today's society can — and should — learn some valuable lessons and skills from those native people who inhabited this continent hundreds of years before European explorers ever landed on its shores. He will be discussing how some of the most common native plants and trees were used by the Cherokee for food, medicine, insect repellent, crafts, shelter and fire. Mark will bring along some plants and handmade crafts for viewing and discussion. Quote from Mark, “All of us who live in Southern Appalachia reside on land that once belonged to the Cherokee. While these native people led lives of intimate daily interaction with their natural surroundings, most folks today have reduced nature to a backdrop of scenery. The great deficit in this scenario is our lack of understanding that we still depend upon nature. Air to breathe, water to drink, energy to consume for our daily actions. These are commodities that are easy to take for granted. If these gifts are taken for granted, humans will have no reason to respect and conserve the pieces of the puzzle we call ecology." Mark has packed 50 years of teaching and knowledge about the Native Americans’ everyday life skills into a four-volume series of books titled Secrets of the Forest, which he wrote with three purposes in mind: 1.) To provide clear instructions in primitive survival skills for anyone wanting to better his/her self-sufficiency in the wilderness . . . by learning the old Indian ways of living comfortably in the forest. 2.) To offer parents, teachers, scout leaders and outdoor educators a guide to engage their students in nature . . . at a time when our young ones so desperately need this connection, as does nature itself. 3.) To win over a new generation of environmental advocates who will look after this world. Although sales of books are not allowed at this library, you may purchase Mark's books ahead of the event on his website or anywhere books are sold and bring them to the event for Mark to sign. For more information on the Georgia Native Plant Society or to join a chapter, check out their website at https://gnps.org/north-metro-atlanta-chapter/ For more information about Mark Warren, or to purchase his books, visit his website at http://medicinebow.net/